The purpose of the cruise was to map the positions of the Antarctic Coastal Current and the Antarctic Slope Front near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. This was principally carried out through the deployment of 40 surface drifters along a transect crossing the continental shelf and slope. Hydrographic data was also collected along this transect.

Deployment of drifters began in earnest on the 9th of February, following a strong storm, and continued during the offshore leg for approximately 24 hours. Hydrographic data was obtained on the return leg between the 10th and 12th of February. A short leg along part of the transect was completed to obtain shipboard ADCP data.

Chief scientist

Karen J Heywood (University of East Anglia School of Environmental Sciences)

Project

ADELIE

Coordinating body

University of East Anglia (UEA)

Cruise report

(5.09 MB)

Ocean/sea areas

General

South West Atlantic Ocean (limit 20W)

Specific

Weddell Sea, Southern Ocean

Track charts

(0.07 MB)

Measurements

Physical oceanography

Surface measurements underway (T,S)

Quantity: activity duration in days = 12Description: Temperature, salinity, fluorescence collected throughout the cruise at a depth of approximately 10m.